Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Ingredient Spotlight: Apples!

I am so glad you stopped by today. We are kicking off fall with our first Ingredient Spotlight of September and it’s all about apples. The farmers markets in our area had their first crop of apples last week, so apple season is officially here.

A few specs on apples:

Good source of vitamin C

Low-calorie sweet snack

Pectin in apples has been linked to decreases in cholesterol, body weight loss, and risk for heart disease

Contains heart-healthy antioxidants

All the more reason to enjoy an apple a day during peak season! Our favorite apple recipes & tips are below – link up yours too!

How to Freeze Apples – in just minutes you can preserve your fall apple harvest to use all year round.

Easy Apple Danish – These are delicious and great for breakfast or dessert. They are topped with our favorite Maple Apple Sauté, which doubles as a fabulous pancake, waffle or ice cream topping.

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars with Crumble Topping – This is a really special and delicious fall treat. We made it healthier at our house (reducing >40% of the fat, sugar and calories in the dessert, and adding whole wheat) and no one knew the difference. I can’t wait to make it this fall.

Spiced Country Apple Sauce – Or, the applesauce that turned me into an applesauce snob. This is the only applesauce I will ever eat. I bake with the stuff that has no flavor, is grainy and otherwise unpalatable from a bowl, but this, and only this, will I eat as a snack. This recipe is a keeper.

What are your favorite apple recipes? I can’t wait to find more for my collection!

When cooking, please make sure to follow kitchen hygiene and safety -- cook meat until internal temperature is at safe levels, always check labels for allergens, and use caution in the kitchen -- I love sharing recipes, but I am not liable for damages done as a result of trying these recipes.